The first light of dawn shimmered across the water like melted gold, spilling over the surface in long, slow strokes. Mist curled lazily above the river, catching the sunlight like breath on glass.
Daita stood at the very edge of the boat, hands tucked into his sleeves, his posture relaxed but his gaze sharp. The breeze toyed with the ends of his coat as he stared into the horizon where the sun began to rise.
The rhythmic creak of the oars and the gentle splash of water was the only sound for a while—until the mist parted like a curtain.
And there it was.
A towering wooden arch with ink-brushed characters stood at the water's edge, half-wreathed in morning fog.
Reikoku.
The city sprawled just beyond it, a silhouette of tiled roofs and sloping bridges, wrapped in cherry trees and early sunlight.
Daita narrowed his eyes slightly, a subtle smirk forming on his lips.
"Finally," he muttered under his breath, the wind carrying his words away, "after two days and two nights… we've reached."
Behind him, Zuzu stretched and yawned loudly. "Seventh Prince…..Did you say something?"
Daita didn't bother to turn. "Just talking to the sun."
Zuzu squinted ahead, then rubbed his lower back like an old man. "Tch. If His Highness had just picked the water route from the start, we wouldn't have been delayed while returning. And he wouldn't have to be locked up like that… I wish I could do something for him."
Daita shrugged lazily. "Then go plead in front of Grumpy Uncle. Tell him to shorten the punishment."
Zuzu's eyes widened. "You want me to go against His Majesty's orders?! I'm just a loyal servant, I don't have the kind of death wish you do!"
He pointed an accusing finger at Daita. "But you! You're the Seventh Prince! Aren't you supposed to be the Emperor's favorite? Why don't you ask him?"
Daita turned just enough to glare at the finger, then smirked.
"Oi, Bag Mule, don't go pointing fingers at me. I'll eat you alive—and for your information, I already did."
Zuzu blinked. "You what?"
"I asked him already," Daita repeated coolly, stepping down as the boat nudged against the dock. "Your Highness is saved from thunder strikes because of his loyal friend, not because of you. Now move."
Then, without another word, he jumped off the boat in one smooth motion, landed lightly on the pier, and began walking away, hands under his sleeves not sparing even a glance behind.
Zuzu, still standing on the boat surrounded by luggage, stared after him in disbelief.
"Seventh Prince, wait for me! Not again! What about the luggage? We didn't bring any guards either! Should my spirit carry all these alone?!"
Daita waved lazily over his shoulder without turning. "That's the spirit, Bag Mule. Now pick up the pace."
Reikoku City wasn't as loud as the Imperial Capital, but it was always in motion. The morning sun cast golden streaks across the tiled roofs, and the scent of roasted chestnuts mixed with plum blossoms drifted lazily through the air. Daita yawned as he strolled through the cobblestone streets, He lazily scanned the house signs and casually stopped passersby, asking about the address with a charming smile.
"Somewhere near the old well," one woman said.
"Maybe down the large road," shrugged an old man.
"Try going downhill and turning left," another woman offered.
Each answer pointed in a completely different direction. Daita frowned, irritation creeping into his voice. "Why does no one here give clear answers? We're just asking for an address. Do they not have time, or are they allergic to helpfulness?"
Behind him, Zuzu staggered under the weight of multiple bags. He let out a long, exhausted sigh and muttered, "Maybe if you'd ask properly instead of flirting with every woman you see, we might actually find the place."
Daita stopped mid-step and shot him a sharp glare over his shoulder.
Zuzu immediately straightened up, clearing his throat and quickening his pace. "I mean! Uh… Yes! Let's ask more people. Someone's bound to give us a useful answer."
After asking around for what felt like the hundredth time, they finally wandered into a quieter part of the city. A large pond shimmered under the soft glow of the morning sun, and cherry blossoms fluttered down from a wide tree that stood at its edge. Beneath its pink shade, two girls sat one focused, the other fumbling.
Arisu was carefully threading silken threads through a cloth stretched over a hoop, brows furrowed in concentration as she demonstrated the stitches. Astra sat beside her, tangled in a mess of colorful knots, clearly struggling but pretending she wasn't.
"There's someone pretty," Daita muttered, his grin returning. "Let's try one last time."
Zuzu, panting beside him with bags piled over his shoulders, nodded begrudgingly. As they neared the girls, Arisu looked up first, brushing a petal from her lap. Astra remained fixated on untangling her thread, until a shadow crept into her view followed by a voice.
"Excuse me, pretty ladies," Daita said smoothly, flashing a charming smile, "Would you happen to know where Grandpa Renshou lives?"
Arisu blinked, lips parting to answer. But before she could speak, Astra's eyes flicked up and narrowed. Her gaze landed not on Daita, but on the exhausted figure behind him.
Zuzu leaned forward, whispering to Daita, "Seventh Prince… I know that girl. She's the arrogant one I bumped into twice. Let's just leave, she never respects anyone. Always acts like she's better than everyone."
Astra's hand froze mid-knot. Her ears, ever sharp, had caught every word. Then slowly, her lips curled into the sweetest smile.
"Oh, you're looking for Kaneko Mansion?" she said, tilting her head slightly.
Daita, momentarily caught off guard by her smile, smiled back and nodded. "Yes… do you happen to know the way?"
"Of course," Astra said sweetly. "It's down the hill—take the left near the tea vendor, go straight until you see a big tree. You can't miss it. Turn right from there….that's where you'll find it."
Arisu blinked at Astra, confused. Her mouth opened slightly to correct her, but Astra gently nudged her knee. Arisu hesitated, lips pressing together. She said nothing.
"Thank you, young ladies," Daita said with a charming nod as he jotted the directions into his memory.
As they turned to leave, Astra twirled a thread around her finger and let out a soft giggle.
Arisu leaned in, nudging her. "Hey… why did you give them the wrong address? What if they're someone important? I might get scolded by Grandpa!"
Still smiling, Astra tied off her knot. "Arisu, didn't you recognize the guy behind him?"
Arisu blinked. "The one carrying all the bags?"
"Yes. That's the one I bumped into by mistake and argued with."
"Ohhh… him."
"Yep. I heard him whispering about me just now he called me arrogant. So I took my revenge."
Arisu looked around worriedly. "But what if—"
"Relax." Astra waved it off. "You didn't say anything. I did. If they come back angry, you're innocent. Now hush, show me that twist-stitch again. I'm finally getting the hang of it."Though still uncertain, Arisu sighed and started teaching again.
Meanwhile, a little distance away, Zuzu scratched the back of his head as they made their way through the street.
"She was so polite…" he muttered. "Maybe I was wrong about her? Or… maybe I mistook someone else entirely?"
Daita didn't respond. His expression had shifted, the usual smile gone. His eyes narrowed as he suddenly halted in his steps.
Zuzu turned back and stopped too. "Seventh Prince? Why did you stop? We still have a long way to go." Daita tucked his hands into his sleeves, his gaze focused.
"We're not going there."
"Huh? Why not?"
"You didn't mistake her," Daita said flatly. "She's the same girl. Same arrogance. Just better acting."
Zuzu blinked. "What acting?"
"She recognized you and probably heard what you whispered," Daita said coolly. "And yet she smiled? Gave directions? Suspiciously sweet. If you ask me, the address she gave is fake."
He smirked. "And more importantly… why didn't anyone from the Kaneko family say a word?"
"Huh?" Zuzu looked puzzled.
"The fabric," Daita went on. "The one she was stitching. It had the same crest Grandpa Renshou used to make me stitch when I was a kid. The Kaneko family emblem."
Zuzu blinked. "But… both girls were stitching. How do you know it was her?"
"Exactly," Daita said. "But only one of them had the technique down. The other looked like she was still learning. Hers—it looked exactly like mine when I used to struggle with it. Not perfect, but close. That kind of detail isn't something outsiders know. Only the Kaneko family has mastered that embroidery."
Zuzu stared at him in awe. "Seventh Prince, you've got sharp eyes and memory."
"I know," Daita said with a lazy shrug. "No need to remind me."Then his expression darkened as he scoffed.
"Trying to fool me, pretty girl?"
He turned to Zuzu. "Do you know anything else about her…..something I can use?"
Zuzu tapped his chin, thinking hard. Then suddenly, his eyes widened. "Ah! Wait!"
He dug into his sleeves, rustling around for a moment before pulling out a small, folded cloth. He held it out carefully.
Daita raised a brow. "What's that? A snack?"
Zuzu unwrapped the cloth, revealing a single delicate earring nestled inside.
"An earring?!" Daita coughed, "Why are you showing me an earring? And why in the heavens are you even carrying it?"
"It's hers," Zuzu said quickly. "She dropped it when she bumped into me. I was going to toss it, but His Highness told me to keep it with me safely and said it might be useful someday."
Daita took the cloth, picked up the earring and held it between his fingers, A slow smirk curved across his lips.
"Your Highness always says something useful…"